CLIFTON – UK Boarding Schools Guide

CLIFTON COLLEGE

In Hortis Reginae

In the Gardens of the Queen

Clifton College is a coeducational boarding and day school in the South West of England. Educating 1,300 pupils aged 3 to 18 the school is set in stunning grounds in close proximity to Bristol. The campus offers modern boarding accommodation, state-of-the art facilities for each academic department and outstanding opportunities for sport: rugby, cricket, football, hockey, netball, rowing, sailing, fencing, swimming, golf, tennis and more besides. In addition to 1st team sports pitches, a gym and a swimming pool on the main campus, we have exclusive use of a 90 acre sports complex close by.

Clifton becomes the school every pupil needs it to be, preparing them for life in the real world. We are known for academic excellence, superb pastoral care and expert staff who deliver the very best in learning and development. We pride ourselves on the quality of our music, drama and art.

In 2023 76% of A-level grades were A* to B with 70% of pupils gaining places to their first choice university. The subject choices at 6th form are extensive, covering A levels and BTEC, and include subjects as diverse as politics, psychology, philosophy and music technology.

The 12 houses are run by experienced house staff teams who ensure that every student feels secure and valued.

BOARDING

ACADEMIC

ADMISSIONS

NAMES OF YEAR GROUPS

LEAVERS' DESTINATIONS

SPECIALIST PROGRAMMES

ACADEMIC

Oxbridge

Queenswood is an Oxford Scholastica Partner School. This means that our students receive additional support to the Oxbridge application preparation from our Head of Sixth Form. Oxford Scholastica provides access to current undergraduates and recent graduates from relevant courses who coach our students on the most successful university interview techniques to adopt. Oxford Scholastica also provides a wide range of online materials devised specifically for those applying to Oxford or Cambridge.

Learning Support

We offer a modern, dynamic approach to personalised learning in which we deliver tailored support by subject teachers to our girls, often while they remain in their classrooms. This is in addition to 1-1 support to stretch those at the top end of academic achievement as well as those requiring support in certain subject areas. The 1-1 teacher-pupil time is provided by Personalised Learning teachers and takes place outside of the girls’ classes. This means greater flexibility and a tightly tailored learning provision for each girl. Not only is this an enriching experience for the girls, it forms the basis for strong public exam results. This is why we achieve such added value for the girls, enabling them to achieve consistently at least one grade higher in every GCSE subject than would be expected at an average independent school. We also offer expertise in supporting girls with various learning differences such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.

CO-CURRICULAR

Sport

We offer scholarships in Tennis, Hockey, and a General Sports scholarship. These programmes provide tailored coaching such as strength and conditioning, dietary advice for enhanced performance, sports psychology and opportunities to compete at a high level.

Music

Queenswood has a long and distinguished musical heritage which continues to this day. We offer an attractive scholarship package for young instrumentalists and singers who show real passion, talent and potential. Students can study virtually any instrument and we promote an exciting “ music enjoyment for all” approach which covers classical music making, jazz, musical theatre and DJing , to name but a few.

Drama

Around eight shows a year are staged at Queenswood. In addition to public performances of our superb practical exam work at GCSE and A-Level, there are whole schol plays, an annual dance extravaganza, and an inter-House Performing Arts competition.

We have an inclusive policy for school plays and never turn a pupil away at audition. Cast and crew for large scale productions are often in excess of 100 students, and during the week of the school play we perform to an audience of approximately 1000 people. We are very proud of our 250 seat theatre which is complemented by a smaller drama studio, which is named for one of our famous former students, the actor Helen McCrory.

Leith's Diploma in Food & Drink

The Leith’s Two Term Diploma is the industry leading cookery course designed for those with a passion for preparing good food and is offered to our Year 12 students. Throughout the course, the students undertake comprehensive professional training to empower them with a rounded knowledge of food and wine, a broad range of culinary styles, practical menu planning, and a series of budgeting techniques.

INTERESTING FACTS

Tennis

Queenswood is the number one tennis school in the UK according to LTA rankings. We recently won the prestigious Aberdare Cup . Queenswood’s U18 tennis team made history beoming national champions in the last week of June 2023, as they won the Aberdare Cup in Nottingham for the 28th time. This victory, coming just six months after our teams won the national schools championships at U13 and U15, means that Queenswood currently holds the national title in all age groups. Queenswood has more tennsi courts than Wimbledon.

Purple

Queenswood is known affectionately as ‘the purple bubble’ because our school colour is purple and we have a warm, nurturing community.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral care is exceptional. We are very proud of our nurturing culture and there are many professional s looking out for each and every girl, especially the international boarders who se families are so far away. Our pastoral team comprises: Housemisstress, Boarding Assistants, Chaplain, nurses, two tutors per form, the Head of Year, Head of House, Head of Boarding, Independent Listener and the Deputy Head Pastoral, plus a residential Counsellor.

WHAT'S NEW

Buildings

The phased renovation of our main teaching block commenced in summer 2023 and will continue for a further 12 months during the school holidays. The renovation of our Science labs also commenced in Summer 2023 and will continue during the holidays for the next 12 months. We are very proud of the recently opened sixth form flat on the school campus. This enables all sixth former s to spend a week with three of their school friends enjoying a taste of university- style independence.

Academic

From September 2023, as part of our digital teaching strategy, we are introducing one device for all students in Years 7-11.Each student will use a Chromebook. Chromebooks offer many new technical possibilities such as the use of augmented reality. This will enable a much more varied and exciting approach to teaching and learning.

Co-curricular

Three are more than 70 co-curricular clubs offered each week. These cater for all interests, including coding club, horse-riding, polo, chess, knitting, and ancient Chinese history. We have recently introduced the martial art Krav Maga. There is of course tennis too. While we cater for elite tennis players we are also very encouraging of tennis for all, no matter what level of ability.

History

Queenswood was originally located in Clapham, London. The school moved to its current site in Hertfordshire in 1925, taking over the country house of a distinguished local family. In 1936, the main building suffered a terrible fire one night. Fortunately no-one was hurt and the headmistress marched all the sleepy girls outside to wait for the fire brigade. It was big news in 1936 and even made it on to a Pathe News news reel shown in cinemas across the country.

ABOUT THE HEAD

ALUMNI

School Website

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QUEENSWOOD SCHOOL

In Hortis Reginae

In the Gardens of the Queen

Radley College is one of the only four remaining full boarding school for boys aged between 13 and 18. Founded nearly 175 years ago the School is proud of its tradition and yet is celebrated for its innovation and dynamism. The school is renowned for added value, outstanding pastoral care and strong community – every boy is known as an individual and the daily evening Chapel and House Cocoa sessions promote the sense of family that is so special to Radley. It is an environment where boys thrive academically and make the most of an enormous range of opportunities on offer – be those our fabulous art and DT rooms or the impressive array of societies and speakers.

Radley is set in a beautiful 800 acre estate of rural countryside and is just three miles away from Oxford and all that is on offer there. Our 735 boys enjoy outstanding facilities and recent developments have included a new boarding house – L Social, a new science centre, 3 astros, a strength and conditioning centre and an indoor rowing tank. We are a school for the all-rounder, we promote academic excellence and intellectual sharpness whilst producing young men who are decent, kind and caring, ready to engage with others and aware of the responsibility they have to the world they live in.